Top Ten Movies of 2013!!!!

Top 10 Movies of 2013!!!!

So let me back track just a little bit to New Years Eve 2012 where I said I'd see as many films as possible in 2013 and review them all as well. Well I have kind of succeeded in this task, I have seen in total as of last year 66 films at the cinema. I have reviewed around 62 of those films with just four more reviews to finish off. 

It has been a great year for film and I know I could list so many other films I wanted to see but either couldn't find a cinema close enough to see or just didn't have time. I've seen massive epic special effect films like Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim, The Wolverine and I have seen quirky impressive independent films like Short Term 12, Drinking Buddies, Ain't Them Bodies Saint's, You're Next and many many more. 

So out of the 66 films I have seen this year which ones have made my top ten. Well I have decided to just list the films and not put them in 1-10 order as they're all impressive films in their own way. 

So here goes:

Stoker: What was to be Park Chan-Wook's (director of Oldboy) first English spoken film in my eyes is a cinematic masterclass. The story of a family torn apart by the death of a father and the arrival of a mysterious uncle who has an interest in the daughter. Subtle hints of a different underlying theme was clever and made the film one to really think and talk about. Scenes that blend together so fluidly and of course the strong yet at times weird performances from Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode make it an impressive film.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brjtL-2kE9A

Zero Dark Thirty: A film that touched upon one of the many hailed triumphs for the United States of America, the hunting down and killing of Osama Bin Laden the then most wanted terrorist in the world. Set in Pakistan it shows the story of agent Maya who works tirelessly for years to track him down. Fast paced scenes of chases and information coming in it shows the meticulous intelligence work that the agents go through day by day. Bomb attacks and random shootings show how dangerous Pakistan can be and what can happen when the agents get deeper and deeper into the terrorists world. Juxtaposing for the last quarter the film it slows right down, a single night vision view is shown as your right in the thick of the siege on the compound. In my eyes it is one of 2013's biggest successes and a well deserved Oscar/BAFTA Nomination for Jessica Chastain's portrayal of Maya.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxC_JNz5Vbg

Short Term 12: This has to be one film this year that really took me by surprise and really did hit me emotionally as it is an exquisite film. The story of a foster home called Short Term 12 it shows a place for troubled teens looked after by Grace (Brie Larson) and her boyfriend Mason. Focusing on two particular teens Jayden a self harmer who respects no-one and Marcus who is just  turning 18 and ready to leave the foster home. Three scenes in particular with Marcus and Jayden will hit you right in the stomach and in an instant raise your spirits right back up. Strong performances by Brie Larson, Keith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever make it an impressive film and bring out characters you really feel for and go along with on their individual emotional journeys.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QxAYxNRgs

Gravity: Visually stunning, amazing, incredible, their are so many words to describe this film, four and a half years in the making Alfonso Cuaron and his son Juan have made an unforgetable film. As the Hubble Telescope is hit by flying debris Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) are hurtled into outerspace and are thrown into the darkness. Both of them try to survive and make it back to Earth but at what cost?. The film is in my eyes amazing, it disorientates, makes you breath fast and at times causes motion sickness which is something you don't get from other films. I have to mention the special effects as when you watch it you think it's real documentary footage but it's not, an incredible film everyone should go and see and in 3D.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4

  

Nebraska: The latest film from director Alexander Payne and it sees the most simplest and yet endearing stories to hit the screen this year. An ageing man with onset dementia Woddy Grant (Bruce Dern) receives a scam letter in the post saying he has won a million dollars and needs to go to Lincoln, Nebraska to receiver his winnings. Constantly picked up by the police who spot him walking along the main roads his son David (Will Forte) soon enough caves in and decides to drive him to Nebraska. Diverting to their hometown of Hawthorne you see how his close family including his brothers and his old friends treat him when they learn he has a million dollars. It's the warm sentiment, little quips and reactions of the characters that make you laugh so much. Another great film from Payne it will no doubt see Bruce Dern, June Squibb and Payne nominated for multiple awards come awards season.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT5tqPojMtg

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty: A late entry to the list and still in cinemas this film really made me smile and just sucked me right into the film. Directed and starring Ben Stiller I wasn't too keen at first but this is a more serious role for Stiller and he really impressed me. Walter Mitty is a man who lives a normal life but zones out and imagines things that could happen inside his head. Threatened with losing his job and having to find photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) for the photo for the last copy of LIFE magazine Walter goes off on an adventure. Walter soon learns to live his life to the full and stop living inside his head, doing things he would never usually do he gains the confidence he has always wanted. Stiller is perfect as a more serious actor and certainly impresses behind the camera as a director. A warm, life affirming and entertaining film for all the daydreamers of the world.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Xk-yTuFEU

You're Next: Now some people will be confused as to why I have put this into my top ten and my reasons are quite valid. Advertised as a horror, home invasion film it shows a family being picked off one by one by masked invaders. But the film has a brilliant little twist to it which surprised me and definitely made the film alot more interesting. As a lone girl fights back she turns out to be the saving grace for the family and their only way to survive. To be honest I found the film to be a really black comedy film as the way in which people are killed had me in pieces with laughter and I'm not saying I have a twisted sense of humour. For anyone who likes the home invasion, threat style film with a lone blonde girl fighting back and want a big laugh then check it out.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUQWpEkbf0

Pacific Rim: I have to admit I am biased at times when it comes to films and for me this is in my top ten because I am a massive Guillermo Del Toro fan. His first directorial film in almost five years it has him return in fine form with a giant robot VS Kaiju monster film. With earth under threat the jaeger program is formed to defend the world against the giant monster invaders. Raleigh and Mako drift to pilot Gypsy Danger and fight back for one last time to rid the world of the Kaiju monsters. I followed this film through production photos leading up to its release and to see GDT back on fine form with this style of film made me smile immensely. Looking at the making of book with the artwork and the meticulous design that went into the film really made the film stand out for me. A giant monster VS giant robot film directed by a giant director and artist in the fantasy film genre.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag

The Way Way Back: This was a hard film to choose as I wanted a comedy that really stood out and I have seen many comedys this year that have impressed. None more so than this one, Duncan a young boy dragged along to his mothers boyfriends holiday retreat he is out of place and has no friends at all. Finding by accident the local water park he gets himself a job and soon enough he starts to have fun and enjoy himself. Having to contend with the ups and downs of his mothers relationship and also having to learn to grow himself he learns alot about life and what to get out of it. The film is written, directed and also stars Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who bring out the funniest parts of the characters but also leave the charm in their to see as well. A really funny film that has a big massive heart in the middle of it and lets people know that life is what you make it and to not let anyone drag you down. Out on DVD now and in shops to buy for anyone who likes The Descendants, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine then check this film out NOW.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwNo1i3jkCo

Ain't Them Bodies Saints: A Bonnie and Clydeesque film that for me brought in the styles and workings of many other impressive directors. Set in southern USA you follow the story of a outlaw couple who survive by stealing and hiding out in an abandoned house. As they both give themselves up in a shoot out at the house he goes to jail and she ends up alone in a house and has to bring up their unborn first child. As he breaks out of jail and goes on the run the film turns its attentions to her relationship with the local police officer who takes a liking to her but will this happiness last?. The film for me is a triumph as the cinematography and visual imagery in the scenes is very Terrence Malick it has that use of light and beauty that is brought out on screen and makes it staggering to watch. Also the use of sound be it the long silence or the sound of crickets in the background it just transports you right into the heart of Texas. A visual treat that has strong performances from Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck and yet has the substance script wise to bring a lost souls style sentiment.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0c0v-stK0

So this is my top ten list of films for 2013 and I hope anyone who reads this has either seen a few of them or at least goes out and watches them at some point. I wanted to create a list that is diverse and doesn't have the obvious films you would expect. 2014 is turning out to be yet another big year in film and with awards season starting up quite soon it will be interesting to see who takes what award this year. So for you all I hope you had a great film filled 2013 and have an awesome time this year in 2014 for yet more great films to come. 

Saving Mr Banks!!!!

Saving Mr Banks.

Disney to make a film about Disney himself you'd think would be packed full of nods and winks to say "DISNEY IS AWESOME" but with Saving Mr Banks it was to just be a standalone film. It's fair to say that they wouldn't criticise too heavily the man who created the Disney brand. 

The film see's the story of how Marry Poppin's creator P.L Travers (Emma Thompson) travels to the US to speak with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) himself over the rights to her story being made into a film. Of course P.L Travers has been seen to be quite the strong and opinionated woman who was very protective over her creation. 

With P.L Travers money running out quite fast she is told to fly to the US speak with Disney and also work on the film so she can have some control over the final film itself. Arriving into the US she meets with the two musical directors and lyricists the Sherman Brothers (Jason Schwartzman and B.J Novak) who work on the songs for the film. Of course to make sure she has a record of what is said in the meetings she records everything that is said and as usual she has stern words "what's responstible that's not a word undo it".

Running alongside the main story of the making of Mary Poppins is the story of P.L Travers own personal life, in particular her upbringing with her father Travers Robert Goff (Colin Farrell). A banker her family was to move around from town to town so that her father can take up his job as a manager of a bank. 

Constant friction was to slow the process of making the film between Travers and Disney, a trip to Disneyland with Disney himself was to loosen Travers up and finally accept the final song of the film 'Let's Go Fly A Kite'. As the relationship between the two becoming more positive and both of the mtruly understanding each others situation they both learn to work together and she lets Disney make the film his way. 

For what is a Disney film about Disney they don't blow their own horn too much and it is subtle and isn't all "YAYYYY DISNEY" style film which is good. The story between Disney and Travers is funny and yet sweet at the same time and also shows how two different people can learn to get along so well. I found the whole Colin Farrell history part of the film abit tedious and I felt it wasn't needed at all. It would still be a strong film with thos parts cut out as Thompson and Hanks are both on fine form and portray their two characters with confidence and we couldn't ask anything more from top actors like themselves. 

Any person or fan of the Mary Poppins film who watched it when they were a kid or even likes the Disney brand will love this film. It mentions all the songs from the film, shows the process Travers and the composers went through to make the film possible and shows an endearing story between two people. 

Oh and do stay to watch the credits as you will hear an actual recording of Travers during one of the many sessions she had during the making of the film.

7/10.

Bad Grandpa!!!!

Bad Grandpa.

It's been a good few years in which we have been subjected to the sheer stupidity of the funny situations the Jackass team put themselves in. This time round the Jackass team have come up with a more story based film and I have to say with the ammount of Jackass shenanigans it is really funny and feels fresh and new.

Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) is an 86 year old man who has recently lost his wife, with his daughter being sent to prison he has the task of taking his grandson Billy (Jackson Nicoll) to his father. With the two of them never having any contact and knowing each other they have to learn to get along in order to drive across the US.

Obviously with a grandson who is a little mischievous both of them get up to some stupid antics, Irving getting his penis stuck in a vending machine and stretching it,  Billy trying to gain entry into a strip club, Irving having explosive shitting and kissing his own granddaughter passionately the list of antics is endless. 

Theirs not alot to the plot of the film but it does have the Jackass candid camera elements thrown into the plot between the Grandpa and Grandson and it works really well. Both characters are both as worse as each other and they both fool so many members of the public into thinking they're real situations taking place. 

Scenes where penises stretch, shit is thrown on walls, chairs are knocked over, bodies flung through windows and testicles are shown it's all part of the fun and I could have watched it for another few hours. Knoxville is obviously a pro when it comes to playing Irving and just transforms perfectly into this old 86 year old naughty grandpa and Jackson as Billy just plays along with it. 

Knoxville has said in interviews he met the kid when he followed Knoxville around on set and kept hitting him in the balls and wanted him on a future Jackass project. And this is the perfect setting for him to unleash his antics, Jackson is a perfect little hellraiser and he plays up to the cameras so perfectly and is willing to do anything to get a reaction and a laugh. 

The finest moment for me in which I was in stitches with laughter would be where they dress Jackson up as a little girl for the beauty pageant and Jackson does a routine of pole dancing to Motley Crue's 'Cherry Pie' song. The fact Irving comes on-stage and starts firing off dollar bills Billy's way just had me crying with laughter. 

Being a massive Jackass fan I loved this film because it brought back some of the old style Jackass stunts but it didn't present it in a way we've seen before. If this was Jackass the movie 5 or 6 people would have been bored of it but bringing in a moral storyline to take you along was genius and Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville have created something really funny. 

A laugh out loud funny, crude, ridiculous, cringe worthy, Jackass film that Knoxville and co should be proud of, LONG LIVE Jackass.

8/10.